Counter stiffener and method of inserting it in a shoe



May 18, 1948- i A. R. SCHOENKY I COUNTER STIFFENER AND METHOD OF INSERTING IT IN SHOES In vento r AugusiRJchaen/(gDcd Ana s'tatz'aLschoenkylqdmnz.

By her-Attorney Filed March 29, 1944 Patented May 18, 1948 COUNTER strirrnmm AND METHOD OF INSERTING IT IN A SHOE August'lt. Schoenky, deceased, late of Swampscott, Mass., by Anastatia L. Schoenky, administratrix,

Swampscott, Mass.,

assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 29, 1944. Serial No. 528,575

This invention relates to a counter stiffener and the method of inserting it in a shoe and is herein'illustrated in its application to the construction of the rear or quarter portion of a lined shoe.

In the commercial manufacture of lined shoes provided with heel stiffeners, or counters, the counter is manually inserted into the upper, and the accuracy of the location of the counter relatively to the upper is dependent entirely upon the skill and care exercised by the workmen performing the assembling operation, hereinafter referred to as the assembler. It is important that the assembler position the counter accurately in the rear part of the upper since there is no opportunity after the assembling operation has been performed for adjusting the position of the counter. Numerous difliculties in the manufacture of the shoe'invariably arise from the mis placement of counters, involving, for example, the side lasting, heel end lasting, and heel attaching operations; and the completed shoe is likely to have numerous minor defects as a result of the misplacement of the counter even if the operations subsequent to assembling are performed with a high degree of care and skill.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the construction of the upper and the counter so as to aid the assembler in accurately positioning the counter in the upper, It is a further object of-the invention to facilitate and expedite the assembling operation with a view to increasing the production of the assembler.

With the above objectsin view the invention in one aspect thereof consists in improvements in shoe construction wherein the quarter lining and the upper are provided with fastening means arranged to engage a portion of a heel stiffener inserted between the upper andjllning and accurately to locate the stiifener both widthwise and heightwise thereof relatively to the upper and wherein the heel stifiener is characterized by a structure whereby it is registrable with said fastening means. The back line of the upper is employed as a reference line to determine the position of the counter in the upper, the back line being the line of the back seam securing the quarters together. For purposes 01 description it is assumed that the counter'has a similar back line, said back line in the case of the counter being a line which would register exactly with the back line of the upper when the counter is accurately located in assembled position inthe upper. The counter locating fastenings provided'in '12- Claims. (Cl. 36-68) v the quarter portion of the upper preferably ex- 't ernative counter construction; and

tend heightwise of the upper for locating engagement with portions of a counter characterizedby edges arranged to engage said fastenings,

. said edges being oiiset relatively to the top edge of the counter. Two forms of counter construction are herein illustrated in one of which the positioning edges of the counter are the opp site side edges of a tab projecting upwardly from the top margin of the counter, while inthe other construction the positioning edges are the opposite side edges of a recess in the top margin of the counter. Preferably the tab or the recess is centrally located with relation to the back'line of the counter.

In another aspect thereof the invention consists in an improvement in shoe construction comprising a lined upper, a counter characterized by a locating tab projecting upwardly from its top edge, and means incorporated in the rear portion of the upper for determining the position of the tab therein. In the illustrated construction the stitches in the upper providing the means for locating the tab of the counter provide a pocket between the upper and the lin-- ing into which the assembler may readily insert;

the tab of the counter in the course of the as-- sembling operation. I

In another aspect thereof the invention pro-- vides a method of making shoes which consists: in the provision in the marginal portion of an upper and a quarter lining of fastenings providing means for registering a counter in the upper. and so inserting a counter between the upper and lining that it is located circumferentially thereof relatively to the upper by said fastenings. If desired, the fastenings may also serve to determine the heightwise position of the counter.

These and other features of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims. 7 v v I In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of a molded counter incorporating features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a lined upper provided with a molded counter such as that illustrated in Fig. 1, the top margin of the quarter lining at the back line portion of the upper being broken away to show a portion of the counter;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an al- Fig. 4 illustrates part of the top margin of a lined upper at the back line portion thereof, the top margin of the lining being broken away to illustrate a portion of a counter of the type illustrated in Fig; 3. V

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a molded counter-- of the type commonly provided for shoes having lasted-in heel seats, said counter having mold -z 7 ed wings ii) and a molded inturned flange I2 H which are of usual construction. back line portion i4 is extended upwardlyto provide a novel tab [5 which, ashereinjillus trated, is substantially 'wider than it is :h-ighgand is provided with rounded corners l8-1 to facili tate its insertion into the rear or quarterap, tion of the upper.

In inserting the counter illustrated in-. Fig l intov the lined upper illustrated in Fig; 2, the tab i6 is inserted into a pocket formed by twoshortl rows of stitches 2i] and 22 extending through the upper and lining and arranged generallyheight-- wise of, the rear part of the upper atopposite. sides of, and spaced equally distant from, the. backlline of the upper. The rows of stitches 29;;and 22 extend upwardly to the seam. 24 ;se 2 curing the top margin of the lining to theupper. That portion of theseam- 24 lying between the two rows of stitches 20 and 22 forms the base of the pocket within which the tab I6 is inserted, In inserting the counter into the upperthe-op- 30 posite side edges 25 of the tab engage thestitohes 2i} and 22;to center the tab relatively to the, baclnline of. the upper, and the top edges .of, the body portion of the counter adjacent to, the tab. engage the end stitches of the short seamsifland 22-:to locate the counter heightwise relatively; to

theupper. V

In assembling the'upper shown in Fig, Zand the counter shown in Fig. 1, the quarter lining lfi is first drawnthrough theankle opening. of. the 40 upper to facilitate the insertion of the counterinto the rearportion of the upper. The counter, which preferably has been coated with a suitable ad esive, is then advanced into the interior or the rearportion of the shoe, the back. line otthe counter being maintained as near as possible to a position of registration with the back line. of

, the upper. During the latter part ;of themove ment of. the counter into the upper. the tabl 6 will readily enter the. pocket inthe rear :portionpf .50 the upper. As the tab is seated in the pocket it willbe located heightwise and also centrally with relation to the back line of the upper. After so, seating the tab [6 in the-pocket in the upper, all;-,that;is required to bring the counter into correct relation tothe upper is to swing the oun e s i h y id h e the p erree may be required, tojcause the backline of'thecounter to register with the back line of the; upper throughout its entire length. while-this calls for the exercise of skill on the part of the a s sembler the degree of skillrequired-is, substantially lessened by the provision of the-illustrated means for insuring an accurate; registration; of the -top. margin ofv the counter in the, top n 1-argin 05 or the upper. Furthermore, the provisiqnot the illustrated registering means greatly facilitates the; assembling operation and appreciably increases the production obtainable by-theas sem l' Whilethe preferred former counter register;

ing means comprises the counter tablfiillustrated in Fig. 1 and the tab receiving pocket ill us trated .in Fig, 2, it is to be understood tha'ti' my invention is not, limited. t o-this type...of, regi s'ter.-

; distant.

ing means, since numerous forms of registering means would be suggested to those skilled in the art by the above disclosure. One such alternative means is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 shows ,a-.mo1ded counter having a recess 28 formed in its top margin, the opposite side edges 30 of said recess being spaced equally distant from the back line of the counter. For registering the counter centrally with relation to .ag lined gupper;=-the-upper is provided with two vertical rows of stitches 32 (Fig. 4) spaced equally from theback line of the upper. The

dlS bletween the two rows of stitches 32 is f sllcll. hat, up lai fi sertion of the counter into the the-countercomeinto contiguous relation to the upperithebppositel side edges 38] of the recess in stitchesiiiz whieh, thus position the top margin of the "rearportion'of the counter accurately in ill-716211131 612;

It will be evident that the stitches 20 and 22 in.v the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 or, alternatively; the,- stitches32 inthe construction illustrated in ;Fig.. 4,; may1serve to determine the position otthe counter not only widthwisethereof but also heightwise thereof in the upper, the heightwise position of the counter being determined'by moving the counter upwardly into the rear portio ecffthe.uppenuntil it is arrested by the, s tit ,c l' es. If ,ior any: reasonit should be desirable' to permit the assembler some latitudein o iuonmggne. counter heightwise thereof in the uppen thisgrnay' beflreadilyachieved in the con- Structionillustratedin Fig. 1, by cutting away smallppttionsot thecounteradjacent to the tab lfi orby;shortenmg ..thei two, rows of stitches 2i! and 22. The'gsame resultmay be achieved ,in the construction illustrated'in Fig. 4- by merelyshortenih'g 1t i1c;two. rows of stitches .32 or, alternativety;increasm .,tne depth ofthe. recess in the ouiite Haying thus described the. invention, what is claimedas .n e w.. and;desired tobe secured by Letters Patent 9 theJlnited' states is:

1., In' ajfshoe, anaupper, aquarter lining, fastenings which .lielparallel to the. top edge of. the upper -and1sjecure, the top marginal portions of the up and. liningtogether, a heel stiffener characterized,by ,.a, structure offset. relatively to t jstiffener, andfastenings other than .theifas'te gs above-mentioned arranged itegsides 10f andcontiguous to said oiiing s being, arranged at opposite sides of and cone ii uq e aof setst uctureoe, ,an uper, aquarter linin faslie parallel to vthe top edge: of the am ashoer. an uppe qu rt t na fastenings which lie parallel to the top edge of the upper and secure the top marginal portions of the upper and lining together, a counter characterized by a structure offset heightwise of the shoe relatively to the top edge of the counter, and two lines of fastenings, other than the fastenings above mentioned, securing the upper and lining together and extending heightwise of the shoe, said fastenings being arranged at opposite sides of and contiguous to said offset structure.

5. In a shoe, a lined upper, fastenings which lie parallel to the top edge of the upper and secure the top marginal portions of the upper and lining together, other fastenings constructed and arranged to locate both widthwise and heightwise of the shoe a tab projecting upwardly from a heel stifiener, and a heel stiffener having such a tab.

6. In a shoe, a lined upper, fastenings which lie parallel to the top edge of the upper and secure the top marginal portions of the upper and lining together, other fastenings constructed and arranged to engage a heel stiffener within a recess in the top margin of the stiffener, and a heal stifiener provided with such a recess.

7. In a shoe, a lined upper, fastenings that lie parallel to the top edge of the upper and secure the top marginal portions of the upper and linin together, other fastenings constructed and arranged to engage a heel stiifener within a recess.

formed in the top margin of the stiffener, said recess having opposite side edges and a bottom edge, said other fastenings being arranged to engage said opposite side edges and said bottom edge of said recess thereby to locate the stiffener both widthwise and heightwise thereof relatively to the upper, and a heel stifiener provided with such a recess.

8. In a shoe, a lined upper, a heel stifiener characterized by a locating tab projecting upwardly from its top edge, and means incorporated in the rear portion of the upper and arranged to engage the tab thereby to determine the position of the tab in the upper.

9. In a shoe, a lined upper, a heel stiifener characterized by a locating tab projecting upwardly from its top edge, and means incorporated in the upper providing a pocket for receiving the tab and locating it relatively to the upper.

10. In a shoe, a lined upper, a heel stiffener having a locating tab projecting upwardly from its top edge at the back line of the stiffener, and means incorporated in the upper providing a pocket in the top margin of the upper in the region of the back line for determining the location of said tab relatively to the upper.

11. That method of making shoes which comprises securing together the top margins of an upper and a quarter lining by fastenings which lie parallel to the top edge of the upper, securing the upper and lining together by fastenings other than those above defined, inserting a, heel stiffener between the upper and the quarter lining, and positioning said stifiener both widthwise and heightwise relatively to the upper by bringing an oifset structure of the stiffener into engagement with the last-mentioned fastenings.

12. That method of making shoes which comprises providing a lined upper having fastenings securing. the lining and upper together and arranged to provide a pocket for the reception of a tab projecting from the upper margin of a heel stifiener and inserting such a heel stifiener between the lining and upper in such a manner that the tab is seated in the pocket and thus positioned widthwise thereof relatively to the upper.

ANASTATIA L. SCHOENKY, Administratria: of the Estate of August R.

Schoenky, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Simonds Apr. 3, 1877 Erdman Dec. 7, 1886 Jennings Dec. 1, 1908 Zern Jan. 8, 1924 Robert Nov. 25, 1930 Dodge et al June 7, 1932 Colavito et al Jan. 2, 1934 Tupper Aug. 20, 1935 Disch Aug. 11, 1936 Daniels Nov. 2, 1937 Engel Aug. 27, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Sept. 11, 1934 Number 

